Justin Bond Concert in NYC! New "Pink Slip" EP! Hurrah!
Beauty, thy name is Bond.
Justin Bond may be known best as the singing/cocktail-wielding Kiki, one-half of the world-renowned performance duo, Kiki and Herb, and it’s no wonder. The pair have had a Tony-nominated run on Broadway, played Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House -- and of course crusty gay venues from Avenue A to Kangaroo Island.
But Justin Bond is striking out on his own, with a new EP of original music just released, and a big concert next Wednesday, July 22nd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom. The EP, Pink Slip, boasts 4 new original tunes from Bond and his collaborator Our Lady J, and one killer Radiohead cover (“Weird Fishes”). The results are gorgeous, dramatic, melodic, severe and searingly fresh, much like Bond himself. (“The Puppet Song” is beyond fabulous.) And head’s up: A full-length release of new tunes from Justin is due later this year!
If you’re in NYC, don’t miss the concert next week. Clint Michigan (a rising indie duo you should know) will be opening, as will the comic treats Jeffery & Cole (also seen in "Jeffery & Cole’s Casserole" on Logo). AND... If you can, splurge and buy the VIP seats for the show; for $50, the proceeds will benefit the Ali Forney Center, which provides housing and services for LGBT homeless youth. Plus, you’ll get a meet-and-greet with La Bond himself!
And go check out Butt Magazine’s great, lengthy new interview with Justin, in which he discusses his music-making process, Radical Faeries, Michael Jackson, life after Kiki, and other tasty topics.
After the jump, check out our video interview with Justin and Our Lady J from last year, when Justin's show "Lustre" was opening at P.S. 122 in the East Village. (And apologies: The sound on the video is low. You'll need to turn it UP. Thanks!)
Mika Sets Date for New Album and Single, "We Are Golden"
Mika is looking quite dreamy in this new promo pic, not going to lie.
The master of bubble-gum piano pop himself, Mika, is set to release a new album on September 22! His record company is promising that We Are Golden, the follow up to his 2007 insanely popular debut album Life in Cartoon Motion, is "even more joyous and unique than his first." Wow, that's really, really joyous. His debut album is happy enough to even make Vladimir Putin jump up and dance, so the next album must be like audible nitrous oxide.
I guess I'll find out how happy it is July 20th when his first single, also titled "We Are Golden," hits British radio and streams on his website.
Singer & songwriter Chris Garneau sat down recently with us to talk about his new album, "El Radio," a followup to 2007's "Music for Tourists." To record his latest, the NYC-based singer traveled with his friends and bandmates to New Hampshire, and the result is a beautiful mixture of poignant lyrics and fanciful, exquisitely melodic music.
Garneau's new tunes veer from whimsical to melancholy, and "El Radio" marks a departure from being more introspective to covering a wider array of topics. As his label puts it: "Garneau's extensive cast of characters unavoidably comment on the social and political forces that pull us unpredictably through time while rollicking to the rhythms of an organ grinder."
We tracked down Garneau at the Soho apartment of a friend; you'll note the car horns of afternoon traffic on Lafayette street outside. But what you'll love is watching Garneau at a grand piano, doing what he does best.
In the video interview above, Garneau (looking very handsome, by the way) explains everything from the title of his new album, the female influences of his grandmother and the women of Juarez, Mexico, and his decision to shift the focus off of himself for this album. Be sure to also check out his performances here of two songs of the new LP: "Fireflies" (at the end of the interview above, the music begins around 8:40) comes first, then watch and hear the completely gorgeous "Hands on the Radio," below.
Duncan James of British Boyband Blue Comes Out as Bisexual!
I had never heard of Blue or Duncan James before today. Now that I have...I'm instantly a fan.
Man, July must be the official coming out month for boybanders. Duncan James, a member of the British boyband Blue, recently came out as bisexual, telling the UK magazine News of the World: "I'm bisexual. I've been in loving relationships with men as well as women - and I'm not ashamed." Though I've never heard of the band (they were apparently very successful across the pond in the early 2000s and are currently going on a reunion tour), this news still makes me happy.
The very dapper men of Blue. Duncan James, you are very lucky to carry such company.
Even if they don't have as big of an audience over here in the states (yet?), it's awesome to hear about another boybander who is willing to be honest with his fans about his sexuality. Especially since James has earned the reputation in the UK as a huge womanizer. He admits in the article that he has slept with many more women than men. Well, I'm sure that his revelation will inspire many men across the world to help him change those stats.
Fritz Helder and the Phantoms Go All Out at Mr. Black
With so much fierceness/craziness on one stage, how could this night be anything but amazing?
When I think of the up-and-coming glam/electro/dance confab Fritz Helder and the Phantoms, the last thing I think of is the word boring. Flashy, wild, hip, and crazy are the more likely to come to mind. I had the opportunity to see them perform at Mr. Black in NYC this past Friday and they definitely did not disappoint. Maybe it was the open bar, the hot shirtless men, or the awesome performance, but that show was one of the craziest and most entertaining ones I've been to in a while.
The boys and girls of Fritz Helder and the Phantoms started the night off by being introduced by their mentor (and the celeb whose label their debut is out on) Nelly Furtado, who disappeared as quickly as she came out. Seriously, it was a "blank and you miss her" moment. After the quick introduction, the band went into a thirty minute onslaught of loud music, crazy dancing, voguing and posing, and all around craziness. It was awesome. Each song was better and louder than the next.
Muscled up dancers and all around insanity...after the jump!
Queer Uber-Photographer Catherine Opie Q&A in Vice Magazine
"Pig Pen" by Catherine Opie
-- Lauryn Siegel
While I always appreciated the wild candid photographs of skater boys with visible erections found on the pages of supposed über-guide to hipster culture, Vice Magazine, I sorta lost interest after hearing that their former editor was a strident Republican sympathizer a few years back. Plus, I grew tired of reading a constant stream of low-grade misogynist and homophobic-ish slurs validated by their overall “ironic” tone. That said, I knew that a bunch of the writers and editors housed in their Brooklyn-based offices were, in fact, raging homos and feminists themselves. Jeez, the irony just doesn’t stop!
It looks like one of those Vice-workers, Amy Kellner (famed feminist and creator of "The Cute Show" on Vice’s TV Network, vbs.tv) has grown tired the Vice norm as evidenced by her recent interview with seminal queer photog Catherine Opie, who recently had a massive retrospective at The Guggenheim. This informative Q&A finds Opie candidly reflecting on her former life within the SM community in light of her newer role as mother, partner, tenured professor and art world megastar. The article also features a great sampling of Opie’s spellbinding photographs of superhot butch dykes and girls with needles stuck in freaky places. Go Amy...and, umm, go Vice!?
Jay Brannan Kicks Off His "I Suck At Life Tour" in NYC
Jay Brannan is oh so adorable and, as his shirt indicates, so hateful as well. He was quick to point out that he was wearing the same shirt as his Facebook profile picture.
The ever adorable yet often-times moody folk-singer Jay Brannan kicked off his most recent tour last night in New York. Jay's new tour, called the "I Suck at Life Tour," started without a hitch at Joe's Pub, despite the presence of a slightly stalkerish fan and Jay's perspiration issues.
In between playing some of his more famous hits, such as "Housewife," "Soda Shop," and "Half Boyfriend," Jay treated the crowd to several songs off of his new covers album, In Living Cover (which is actually number one on the iTunes album charts...go Jay!).
Jay pretty much had every man in love with him by the end of the set. Combine his cute banter ("I'm from Texas...we don't acknowledge things like cancer until they're right on top of you. Until they punch you in the face!" he said about why he doesn't care that his antiperspirant is bad for him) with his incredible singing and guitar playing, Jay had every person transfixed by the end of the show. Maybe that's why his "stalker" kept screaming out "I love you!" to Jay pretty much every five minutes.
Check out more pictures of the evening and several Jay music videos...after the jump!
Video: A Visit to Butt Magazine's Big BANG Party in NYC!
A few weeks ago, everyone's favorite artsy/risque gay mag BUTT Magazine threw a big party here in NYC, hosting a slate of some of the most raucously cool up-and-coming bands, including Hunx and his Punx, Salem, and the rappin' freshness that is Sissy Nobby and Big Freedia.
We went to the sweaty, sexy, trashy BUTT BANG affair and we took a camera along to record some of the madness. Have a look! And you'll hear from BUTT Mag's own Michael Bullock and Adam Baran -- and the performers -- about why BUTT is something you can never get enough of!
Awwww, you gotta love sexy/dirty/cool NYC.
Sissy Nobby & Big Freedia came to celebrate, Kids! Salut! Photo courtesy of Althea Smith, via ButtMagazine.com.
Also, big props to our intern Gina Valvo for shooting & editing the above video, too!
An Interview & Performance Peek from Kind Monitor's Joshua Guthals
--by Becca Roth
Four months ago, on a crowded subway, Aja Spears and Joshua Guthals first met. She was batting her eyelashes, minding her own business, when a tall, dark and handsome man bumped into her with his guitar case. He apologized profusely and told her she was very beautiful. They began spending lots of time together, and four months later wound up with a residency at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn, singing beautiful duets to intellectual indie audiences every Thursday in July. Perfect fairy tale? Except that Joshua’s gay. (Or maybe that’s even more perfect?)
Joshua (seen above! watch!) is the frontman for the up-and-coming Brooklyn-based band Kind Monitor (or perhaps he himself is Kind Monitor; the world may never know). I was fortunate enough to catch the first installment of “The Aja and Joshua Show” last Thursday at Pete’s, where Joshua and his impossibly stunning subway-riding friend Aja enchantingly harmonize acoustic originals as well as covers. Not only is the duo very nice to look at, but their unique sound, mixed with the cool red atmosphere of the intimate but not stuffy space that is Pete’s Candy Store, is something definitely worth checking out.
Why should you know all this? The pair will perform four more weekly (free!) shows at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg at 9 PM. The show is under an hour (it’s a school night) and every week is a different set, so keep on comin’ back!
More Kind Monitor show info, and the "Cairo" video, after the jump!
V Factory's Nathaniel Flatt Is Gay. He's in a Boy Band. Discuss.
Meet Nathaniel Flatt. He's gay. Hooray!!?
OMG, the shockingness! A guy in a boy band is gay! Ok, so maybe it ain't earth-shattering news, but yes, Nathaniel Flatt, one-fifth of the rising boy-band V Factory (yes, they still make those!) is a homosexual. And he's cute, so... Hurrah! Who doesn't like it when a cute mini-celeb-to-be comes out!?? Towleroad has an interview with the lad.
OK. Total disclosure. I've never heard of these V Factory moppets or Nathaniel Flatt in my life. Are they some Disney Channel bit of teen wetness? Can someone help me out here? Oh, hell. They're cute. I'll investigate. All because one of them is gay. (Just the one?) Oh, and evidently they performed at Pride in San Francisco. Attaboys!
Puppies! Inspired by... Puppies? Er, I mean... V Factory!
More V Factory, Nathaniel and some of their music and stuff after the jump.
Pride Weekend Playlist: Miss Ross, Glambert & Some Weather Girls
"Mad World" - Adam Lambert on The Today Show
There are as many ways to get your groove on for Pride as there are floats in a parade, fruit flavors of vodka, or folks who can tell you where they were and how many bricks they threw at Stonewall.
So here's a little messy mix of Pride-weekend tunes to get you going. I've started off somberly above with pop music's newest gay, Adam Lambert, serving his "Mad World" to the masses from The Today Show. But then it's gonna get more into a mix of old (Diana Ross, The Weather Girls) to more recent (Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes) to cute and right now (Sam Sparro).
Singer Chris Pureka Talks Music, Helps Lesbians Hook Up
--by Kelsey Lisette
Singer-songwriter Chris Pureka recently brought the newest tunes from her EP Chimera to Joe’s Pub in NYC, showing her new material with a riveting live performance. She also demonstrated her gift for philanthropy, as her show easily (perhaps unwittingly) facilitated getting half of downtown Manhattan’s lesbian population laid. With a combination of sultry southern sounds and cabaret style lighting multiplied by a full house of ladies, I doubt I’m the only one who didn’t ride the F train home alone that night.
Pureka’s new album sounds familiarly devastating and folksy, but in that sexy way. It makes you sad, but not like full-blown "wearing sweatpants eating reduced-fat Breyer’s from the tub" sad. Her music occupies that sweet spot where maybe you’re drunk alone at home, but hey -- at least you put eyeliner on.
The two-headed Chimera EP cover; and a nice shot of one-headed Chris. Photo by Shayne Berry.
Chimera makes moping around love-lorn sound pretty hot in the way we’ve come to expect from the soft-spoken Pureka. She's equal parts adorable queer farm boi, whiskey-voiced faux-country crooner and New Englander in sheep’s clothing. It’s like she’s a chimera or something- I mean, we know what that is... We went to college too. Whatever.
Adam Lambert Teams Up With Sam Sparro for New Album
Glambert is getting quite the team to help him out on his upcoming album. Sounds like we're in for quite the treat.
Using everyone's favorite new social networking site, Twitter, Adam Lambert and Sam Sparro have announced that they'll be writing music together for Adam's debut album. Sparro posted on his site last night saying he was waiting for Lambert in the studio, and the American Idol runner-up confirmed minutes later that the two would be joining forces for his new album.
Looks like Lambert is not the only one with a unique style.
So far, the glam rocker has already revealed that he'll be working with Red One, mastermind behind several of Lady Gaga's smash hits. Now that Sparro has announced he'll be joining the team, it's apparent the makeup loving Lambert means business. Sparro and Lambert, who are both openly gay, will undoubtedly come up with some very unique and interesting music.
The ever playful Mika shushes the crowd during last night's concert. He's always doing something cute, isn't he?
Mika fans, rejoice! NewNowNext's fabulous friend and music blogger Arjan revealed earlier today that the flamboyant British pop star played several new songs off his upcoming album during his latest venue. Mika performed an intimate acoustic performance last night in New York at La Poisson Rouge. Mika unveiled "Rain," a poignant ballad, and "Blame It On the Girls," a tune similar to the playful songs he's become known for.
Head on over to Arjan's blog to check out more pictures of Mika's performance and listen to the new songs!
Pride Weekend Mega-Show: Stonewall 40th Anniversary Concert & Love Ball!
Advertised as the "Woodstock" of gay concerts, the Stonewall 40th Anniversary Commemorative Concert is set to turn NYC's Times Square on its gay ear when it serves up a night of great music and entertainment (while honoring the Stonewall riots, the catalyst for the gay rights movement, of course). Combining gospel singers, porn stars-turned-singers, and drag queen trios performing electropop (and lots, lots more), I highly doubt the concert won't keep you entertained.
Be sure to stick around after the show for the Love Ball after party at 10pm. Continuing in the theme of having the most eclectic group of performers, the Love Ball will feature tributes to Judy Garland, Broadway musicals, and the Harlem house balls. Expect lots of voguing, hot men, and plenty of dancing.
The list of performers for the big Stonewall Concert include a mega-list of fab out music artists. There's host Murray Hill, and then comes (stand back...) Billy Porter, Deepa Soul, Baron, Colton Ford, Jasper James & She Dick, Lori Michaels, Rachael Sage, Ari Gold, Ajoshua, Kin4Life, Christine Martucci, Jen Urban & The Box, The Maine Attraction, Jason Walker, The Lavender Light, Gospel Choir, DELI, Ron Morris, Johnny McGovern, Ariel & The Hired Guns. The event will also honor Jack Doroshow, the Legendary Mother Queen “Sabrina Flawless”, Mildred “Dred” Gerestant and Randy Jones, the original Cowboy from the Village People.
The concert takes place Saturday, June 27th, at 8pm at the Nokia Theater in Times Square, while the Love Ball starts at 10pm in the same theater. The concert and ball are sponsored by OutMusic in association with Saint at Large.
Check out pictures of the performers after the jump!
BUTT Goes BANG with a Big, Possibly Trashy Concert in NYC
Everyone's favorite artsy and always risque gay mag BUTT has decided to offer a pre-pride concert at New York's Knitting Factory to bring a more modern spin on the month's rainbow-hued festivities called "Bang!". Taking place this Friday, the concert will feature three up and coming new bands: goth-juke band Salem from Chicago, garage punk band Hunx and his Punx from San Francisco, and New Orleans bounce rapper Sissy Nobby. Expect trashy boys rocking out with their, er... festive bits out.
The boys of Salem, Hunx and his Punx and Sissy Nobby want to "BANG" you. That's cool, right?
The always classy BUTT, the smart and savvy pink-paged magazine published out of The Netherlands, always aims to combine the titillating with the thought-provoking. It's a brilliant mix of Marc Jacobs and male hustlers; of raunchy man-action and high-end culture. Or something like that. Order your tickets now at Ticket Web before they run out. Something tells me this is going to be one scandalous (meaning excellent) concert.
Hottie Jay Brannan's New Covers Album Serves Up Some Classics
Who didn't love Jay Brannan in Shortbus? He was cute and, well, I can't really say why else his performance was attention getting without getting too explicit (let's just say the "National Anthem" earned a whole new meaning). Well, Jay is not only a great actor but as most of you already know, he's also a talented musician and is set to release a new covers album July 7 titled In Living Cover.
Jay covers everyone from the Cranberries to Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan. The album also has two new originals from Jay, and his first single, a cover of the Verve Pipe's "The Freshman," is available on iTunes. The single is already number 3 on iTunes' Top Singer/Songwriter Song charts, so help a fellow gay out and push him towards number 1!
You can pre-order his CD now at his store site, as well as buy his other CDs and t-shirts. Be sure to also check out his main website to find out details about his upcoming tour and see if the actor/musician is coming somewhere close to you!
NewNowNext Awards 2009: They're On! Watch Right Here, Right Now!
They're here. 2009's NewNowNext Awards have arrived in all their towering, high-wigged, glammed-out, cracked-up, sexified glory! Hosted by RuPaul! With appearances from Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Vanessa Williams, Cheyenne Jackson, Ongina, Wendy Williams, Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen, Eve, the Real Housewives of NYC (yes, Jill Zarin & Bethenny), Christian Siriano, Mary McCormack, the Paradiso Girls, Paulina Porizkova, folks from True Blood, Jeffery & Cole and a gay boatload of others!!!
Starting watching now! The first big segment of the show is above... And after the jump, watch the rest!!! Expect madness and thrills and all kind of prizes awarded to the coolest in pop culture, music, TV, film, gayness and just about everything else!
NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show: Watch the Red Carpet Insanity Now!
The NewNowNext Awards are gonna be airing any moment now (at 9pm, actually, but sooner right here). But til then, watch the freaked-out red carpet coverage of the very special NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show! The first clip is above to get you started!!!
It's hosted by NewNowNext PopLab's crazy-tastic Mike Diamond, Charlene from the Logo reality series Gimme Sugar: Miami and me (er, that's John Polly of NewNowNext.com, y'all)!
To watch the rest -- featuring Cheyenne Jackson, the Real Housewives of NYC, Christian Siriano, the gigantic Wendy Williams, Scissor Sister Del Marquis, stylista Robert Verdi, hotter-than-hot rapper Eve, and lots more, click to the NewNowNext Awards Pre-Show playlist!!!
Lady Bunny, Patricia Field & Cleve Jones Score amfAR Honors!
Hot host Alan Cumming and the amFAR-award-winning legendary Lady Bunny!
Last night in NYC, the esteemed AIDS-fighting/awareness-raising organization amfAR held its 10th-annual Honoring with Pride gala, in which the bestowed Courage Awards on three notables who've been fighting the battle against AIDS for years: drag legend Lady Bunny, fashion mogul Patricia Field, and long-time activist/Harvey Milk colleague/AIDS Quilt & NAMES Project founder Cleve Jones.
The shindig was held at the Edison Ballroom and was a pretty swank who's-who of NYC gay celebs, showbiz folks, fashion stars and all-around do-gooders! I went and snapped many pics, and rubbed elbows with Project Runway alums (Jack Mackenroth, Kevin Christiana & Christian Siriano), music stars (Debbie Harry, Ari Gold, Colton Ford), designers (Kenneth Cole, The Blonds) and all around glam types (Alan Cumming, Jenny Shimizu, Michael Musto, Cheyenne Jackson)...
Lady Bunny was the most garrulous award recipient, turning her acceptance speech into a rollicking and hilarious foul-mouthed monologue of zingers, teasing her old pal Pat Field, Flotilla, bragging that her hair was bigger & better than amfAR founder Dr. Mathilde Krim's, and generally cracking filthy jokes about servicing busboys ("See this trophy? Now, I'm an award-winning c***sucker!"). But truly, Bunny -- who founded Wigstock and has DJ'd more AIDS benefits than probably anyone -- has always, in her fabulously abrasive and smartly tart way been a champion of queer equality and AIDS awareness.
Fischerspooner's Casey Spooner Talks Music, Art & Commerce. Ka-ching!
Fischerspooner's Casey Spooner is probably about the artiest rock star around. This coming Sunday night, you can catch Casey and his bandmate Warren hosting NewNowNext Music on Logo, during which he'll chat about the band's new album, performing live, and their proclivity to wearing freakin' insane costume straight out of bonkers-town!
Watch this bonus footage from the show, in which Casey opines about the ginormous gulf between the art biz and the music biz, and how he has a hellaciously hard time of bridging the gap between the wo. It's very "Art & Commerce 101" with Professor Spooner!
And just to spice it up, after the jump watch Fischerspooner's latest video, "We Are Electric." Zap!
Maybe she's born with it... Maybe it's a whole lotta Maybelline.
Adam Lambert's officially out when Rolling Stone hits newsstands this Friday. “I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I’m gay,” says the Idol runner-up/megastar. For a fun primer -- and a pretty sweet conversation with him about his music, his hopes, and about being a Rolling Stone cover boy -- check out the behind-the-scenes video at the big photo shoot with Matthew Rolston.
Who needs a make-up person? Glambert can do his own eyes, thanks very much!
After the jump, glimpse the full final cover shot (if ya haven't seen it already).
The Tony Awards: Neil Patrick Harris Rules, Bret Michaels Gets Clocked, Liza & Billy Elliot Win
Liza and cast members from Hair, Shrek & everything else serve up a love-in at the Tonys!
The Tony Awards last night were a fun mess. The show moved pretty tightly with Neil Patrick Harris as its fantastic, yeomanlike host, moving it all along clad in a leathery-looking tuxedo. The big opening number medley gave us Liza, the cast of Hair attacking the audience, Dolly Parton, Elton John, Stockard Channing looking drag-queeny and a sluggish Bret Michaelsgetting throttled by moving scenery.
Billy Elliot won most of the big awards, including Best Musical and its three young Billys jointly took home the prize for Best Actor in Musical. Their gobsmacked acceptance speech (shades of Anna Paquin's Oscar win) was adorable! Liza rocked the stage as a performer, presenter and winner (for Liza's at the Palace) and her legendary ebullience never gets old.
David Alvarez, Kiril Kulish and Trent Kowalik, aka "Billy Elliot." Yay!
AfterElton's got a great write-up and list of winners. One complaint: Whoever was directing the camera coverage of the show was drunk! I'm sure it's hard to capture all the dancing and singing when a huge group number is happening on stage, but the big musical moments during the show were a slipshod mess, camera-wise. Somebody needs to talk to someone from, say, the MTV Video Music Awards to find out how to cover these kinds of things.
Best moment of the night? Apart from moving acceptance speeches (Karen Olivo from West Side Story, Jerry Herman snagging a Lifetime Achievement Award, the three Billy Elliots and a wacky, nearly ranting Alice Ripley) and some fun peformances by the casts of Hair and West Side Story, it was Neil Patrick Harris' fun closing number, sung as the show wrapped. Watch it now, but hurry because I'm sure it will be yanked down soon.
NPH is adorable even when he's being stern. Awwwwwww...
Colton Ford Covers R.E.M., Fleetwood Mac, Robyn, Nirvana, Everyone Else
Apparently, Colton Ford lost his religion whilst wearing this mesh bodysuit. Or maybe he just lost it because he's wearing headphones over his eyes?
Gay pop/dance music star Colton Ford (oh yeah, he used to be a ridiculously scorchingly hot-n-dirty porn idol) has a new album of cover tunes coming in August. It's seductively titled Under the Covers, which is festive.
And who does the built-like-a-preposterously-hot-brick-sh*thouse Ford get under his covers? Well, the first single is a dancey-thumpin' attack on R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion." Which, you might have thought was pretty much a gay song to begin with, but give Ford's version a listen. I rather like it; I also like to pretend he's slamming me around a hotel room waterbed (in the nicest way) while singing it, but that's just me.
Colton in a still from his "That's Me" video. Ayyyyyyy!
Other tunes he takes on: Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"; Nirvana's "Lithium"; Britney's "Trouble"; Robyn's "With Every Heartbeat"; Sade's "By Your Side"; and yes, his cover of Alicia Keys' "No One" is on there, too.
Drag Race Winner Bebe Zahara Benet Heads into the Studio
Bebe and her music man Mark Picchiotti
Exciting news boys and girls: The African Queen herself, America’s Next Superstar Drag Queen Miss Bebe Zahara Benet will be teaming up with official RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner's Tour DJ Mark Picchiotti to produce new music!
The DJ and international diva met at the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finale/tour launch party in Manhattan earlier this spring. DJ and producer Mark Picchiotti has produced song for Kylie Minogue and mixed everyone from Beyonce to The Killers. The two apparently have hit it off on her winner's tour, as Bebe will be branching out in the world of music directly after her appearance at Asbury Park, New Jersey’s Club Paradise this Friday.
I imagine lots of fierce dance tracks with music videos filled with gaudy outfits, and, of course, BIG hair. Who knows, maybe she'll surprise us again with her awesome rap skills? Regardless, I'm sure the rising star will make her mentor proud.
Check out Bebe showing off her "face, face" and rapping in RuPaul's "Covergirl" after the jump.
Estelle, Tokio Hotel Turn Out Hot T's for H&M (and Fighting AIDS)
Estelle shows off her lovely safe-sex promoting T-shirt design!
Songstress Estelle hosted a swell party last week to launch a new H&M store in NYC (at 86th & Lexington) but also to launch a new line of rock-star-designed T-shirts aimed to raise money (and awareness) in the fight against AIDS.
Buzzworthy blog's Tamar attended and has a great write-up on the shin-dig. And if you go to H&M you can snatch up cool tees created by the likes of Tokio Hotel, Katy Perry, Estelle, Yoko Ono, Dangerous Muse, N.E.R.D., Robyn and others.
After the jump, check out pics of the gay glitterati glamming it up for a good cause (and some hot shopping)!
RuPaul's "Jealous of My Boogie" Video - Starring ChiChi LaRue!
RuPaul asked Hollywood's other big drag queen, porn empress Chi Chi LaRue to star in the official video for Ru's new single "Jealous of My Boogie." And Ms. LaRue does make a fun villainess, who apparently does boast a bit of Ru envy.
Here's a cute pic of the two on set. Ru's as stylish as ever in his dapper man-drag.
I've always loved, loved, looooved Amanda Lepore. And her latest video for "Cotton Candy" only makes me worship her more. It's truly the most fun, most glamorous, most stylish, gayest, and most searingly delightful thing I've sing this year!
The 1950s/60s romantic comedy Doris Day/Mamie Van Doren movie-poster styling of the entire thing is genius, and fits Amanda's deliriously femme fabulousness perfectly. And I'm even smitten by Cazwell as a dark-haired, goofily cute, Clark-Kent-ish romeo. Adorable! (I was hoping for a little Cazwell-tastic rap break in the middle there, somewhere. But you can't have everything, I guess.)
Also, the song is a total, toe-tapping, twist-inducing treat!
Basically, it's all the summer sunshine you need. Mwah!
Heyyyyyy, did the best woman win???? She better had.
The big news from last night's NewNowNext Awards taping in NYC? No, it wasn't RuPaul's costume changes (which were HOT). It wasn't Lisa Lampinelli's filthy jokes (which hopefully will make the cut on-air). Okay, it could have been the riveting live perfs from bands like Morningwood, The Fire and Reason, Storm Lee and the Paradiso Girls featuring Eve (although they were all pretty legendary as you'll see...), but that's not what I'm talking about.
It was THE WINNERS!!!!
And since gays suck at keeping secrets, after the jump you can read the full list of who won what! Of course, you still have to tune in on Saturday, June 13th to watch it all unfurl, but for now... We'll share.
[Psssst! There's another hot pic of Ru after the jump, too!]
A gracious quote from Adam Lambert about losing to Kris Allen in the big finale last night on American Idol:
E! Online: Blogs are going to say, 'If he wins it's because he's gay, or if he loses it's because he's gay.' What do you think of that?
Adam Lambert: Is that what they're gonna say? [Laughs] Those blogs have a lot of opinions, don't they? [Laughs] I think that Kris won because he's a great artist and I was happy to be a runner-up to that.
So he didn't win... But are there any doubts that he's gonna have a sick and amazing career?
Formerly (?) trash-talking and once-homophobic rapper Eminem is on the cover of Vibe this month talking in relentless detail about his f*cked up druggy past. (I can't fault him for his Vicodin abuse. I had some of that stuff for a toothache a few years back, and it was swell!)
But in the story, he goes on at length about how he and Elton John would giggle on the phone like best girlfriends, talking about drugs and addiction and doing shows with Queen (er, really?). I wonder if they ever swapped rock-bottom tales of depraved sex-for-drugs escapades... (Sorry, but you know how those rockers and rappers roll!)
Actually, you can read a bit of the piece about Em & El's late-night pillow talk after the jump.
You think being profiled in The New Yorker is a big deal? HA! What's way better is a nice super-gay interview on OMG Blog! Beloved indie rock frontman Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear served up a cool chat with the OMG folks. He talks about gayness, the band's uber-buzzed about new album Veckatimest (out on May 26th), his loves, his hates and his dreams for the future. (Sort of!)
It's a nice interview, and Ed's a peach! Have a look! And see them when they start a-touring later this month!
The Gossip: New Single, New Album Cover, New Unofficial Video & New Blue Hair
Beth Ditto's been a little bit of everywhere lately (magazine covers galore!) so it'll come as no shock to hear that The Gossip has a new album dropping on June 23rd in the US. It's called Music for Men, which makes me hope that Le Tigre's JD Samson and her DJ posse known as "Men" are involved.
You can hear the first single, "Heavy Cross" which sounds like classic Gossip, with Ditto's powerfully piercing voice guiding a charge across a battlefield of jammy guitars and sharp keyboards. And now you can peep the new album cover below:
It looks good, right? Androgyno-tastic, with nods to (as Stereogum notes) kd lang, Morrissey, Bowie and Johnny Cash all at once. Heck, it even looks a bit like Phranc, remember her? I'm sure Beth Ditto does.
This got posted a couple of days ago, but it's worth checking out "Adam Lambert & 20 More of Music's Glammest Guys" over on MTV's Buzzworthy blog. Yes, we all know La Lambert is a bedazzle-licious icon in the making, but what about all the fancy gents who came before? Boy George! Freddie Mercury! Kanye, even! And yes, El Debarge!
Amanda Palmer & Neil Gaiman Pair Up for Housing Works Show in NYC
Dresden Doll Amanda Palmer isn't content to just be a spirited, wildly talented, weird and queerly cool music artist. She's also all about creating theatre and visuals and stories and all flavors of twisted art and media. Her fans know this already of course...
And so does author/sci-fi god Neil Gaiman, as he's a fan and the pair have collaborated on the book version of her sonic opus "Who Killed Amanda Palmer?". Fans of both (or either) will be tingling to hear that the pair will unite for an event at NYC's Housing Works Bookstore/Cafe (where Bjork is performing this Friday) on June 3rd for a reading/performance, which is certain to be trippily fantastic.
Amanda Lepore's new single and video, "Cotton Candy," is coming at you like a vicious, delightful, fluffy pink storm! This Sunday night (May 3rd) in NYC, there's a big bash at the Hiro Ballroom celebrating the world premiere of the video, which looks pretty amazing!
The clip is very Doris Day/Mamie Van Doren meets Russ Meyer, with Amanda pouting and puckering and posing among fluffy fake fur and pink prints, while Cazwell (in cute Clark Kent drag) plays her gallant suitor. The tune sounds sort of B-52s versus Le Tigre at a John Waters film festival, which means it's adorable!
God bless Amanda Lepore. I don't know of a more benign media figure who simply seems to exist to promote the virtues of lighthearted glamour and having fun, all via a truly revolutionarily subversive persona. Bless!
After the jump, more details about this Sunday's "Cotton Candy" video party at Hiro Ballroom; and a glimpse of Amanda in Tiga's "Sunglasses at Night" video, just to sate your Lepore jones for today.
2009 NewNowNext Award Nominees: Presented by Ronnie Kroell and Bianca Del Rio! With Pizza!
Oh Hell! It's time once again for the NewNowNext Awards, 2009 style!!! Yep, coming soon to Logo is the f*cked-up, freaky and fab awards show that doles out honors to the best new, rising talent on your TV, movie screens, iPhones and anywhere else you consume your messy pop treats!
And in a loopy video announcing the nominees, it's Make-Me-a-Supermodel hottie Ronnie Kroell and NYC's own drag hellion Bianca Del Rio! Damn, now I'm craving some pepperoni!
Watch the above clip, and expect to hear the buzz begin around such nominees as True Blood, RuPaul's Drag Race, Clementine Ford, Ladyhawke, Sam Sparro, the Real Housewives, Lykke Li, James Franco, Bruno, New Moon and other festive stuff!
And yes, as was already announced, RuPaul will be hosting this madness that airs on Logo on Saturday, June 13 at 9pm ET. You can also watch it on LogoOnline. And go to NewNowNextAwards.com to get the full list of nominees. You can even VOTE for your faves!
Look for extra-special NewNowNext Award categories to be popping up soon on DListed, Pink Is the New Blog and the fab music blog ArjanWrites.com, too. They've got their own special NewNowNext Awards coming at you, too.
Now, how do I order up a piping hot Ronnie for myself?
GOSSIP front-woman Beth Ditto gets the McQueen treatment in the new issue of BlackBook. The singer/style icon shows off a few custom looks from the designer, who told the magazine, “I have three words for Beth: life and
soul.”
Reading what she has to say, it's obvious how true that really is. Discussing how she's opened minds to "broader definitions of beauty," Ditto said:
Girls in general have really nice things to say—especially big girls.
It’s mostly men who aren’t as open. I think men fear me sometimes. I
played in Greece last summer and, I swear, when I went into the crowd,
people actually ran away from me. But things like that make me really
happy. You make a decision: if you are going to participate in the
music industry and put yourself out there, you have to know that it’s
all full of s**t.
Check out BlackBook for more photos and to read the rest of the interview. GOSSIP's fourth album, Music for Men, is due out June 22.
Lindsay Lohan Talks to Ellen about Samantha and the Break-Up
You may have seen this by now, but WOW, this is good TV! Lindsay Lohan guested on Ellen yesterday and she and Ms. D talk openly about Lindsay and Sam's big break-up! It's frank. And relaxed and funny. And nicely salient... "I really care about Samantha and we'll see what happens," Lindsay says.
It's a refreshingly candid gay conversation, that's not about "gay" stuff at all; it's just about a relationship and its unraveling and all the attention that gets in Hollywood. Yes, it's a little weird for the usually uber-private Ellen to probe about Lindsay's personal life, but Lindsay presents herself pretty well.
It's also a cool conversation about being young, in the tabloids, in showbiz, and how one becomes a target and how misbehavior gets translated into gossip. Meanwhile, Ellen comes across like a nice showbiz mother hen, concerned about the young starlet.
By the way, who knew Lindsay and Natalie Portman were big buds? I wanna have dinner with them! Ellen can come, too.
Out pop-rocker Ariel Aparicio lives in Brooklyn, is a dad, a restaurant co-owner and spends his free-time hanging out around the top of Logo’s Click List music video show, where his fans consistently chime in and score him high ratings on a weekly basis.
Aparicio’s current hit is the 80s classic “Pretty in Pink,” made famous by the Pyschedelic Furs and by that little Molly Ringwald film of the same name. And keeping in the pink theme, Aparicio is donating all proceeds from the iTunes sales of “Pretty In Pink” to the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure, which combats breast cancer. Nice, right?
He’s got a show in Brooklyn this Friday, but expect more to come! But we’ll let him talk for a bit, now...
Last night Adam Lambert turned out Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You" on American Idol's "disco night." But I can't help but think his slowed-down, heartfelt-ballad take on the tune was too tame. (Watch here, until it's yanked down.) When it's disco night, I want glitter, grinding hips, badonka-donk beats and sequin-drenched sass. Sure, that's a cliche, but so is turning an up-tempo hit into a schmaltzy slow-dance. Meh! Still, Glambert thrilled the judges again, which is good. And predictable!
Meanwhile, in the never-ending news-fun that is "let's dig up more old footage of a pre-Idol Lambert," MTV has the newsy clip above that shows Lambert serving his screechy best onstage in L.A.'s The Zodiac Show a while back. And yes, even then his makeup is flawless.
Chris Garneau: first non-classical/jazz performance at Bargemusic
Chris Garneau is making all kinds of news lately. We just found out about his sophomore LP, El Radio, due out on July 7th, and now it's been confirmed that the out indie musician will be the first non-classical/jazz performance EVER at Brooklyn's prestigious chamber music venue, Bargemusic.
This record-making performance will take place May 21 at the floating concert hall below the Brooklyn Bridge. Can you imagine anything more stunning than Garneau on the East River, with the Manhattan skyline behind him? Amazing.
Since 1977, Bargemusic has held concerts of prominent and emerging classical and jazz musicians only. Why the change? Maybe Garneau's artsy river photo shoot inspired someone at the venue? Who knows. But it definitely won't be a show to miss. New Yorkers, check it out.
I got wind of MYNX via the always plugged-in ArjanWrites.com site. Yikes! There's so much cokey glam/manic fashion/poof-tastic attitude and grungy-skanky chic going on with these kids I think I need a shot of wheat grass juice to cleanse my system! It's very Nip/Tuck meets Party Monster!
The scene above is just one of the fab moments from the new showbiz documentary, Every Little Step, which chronicles the origins of the legendary Broadway musical, A Chorus Line. Watching the amazing and heartbreaking Jason Tam nail his audition for the role of the gay dancer Paul (with one of theaterdom's most memorable monologues) for A Chorus Line's 2006 Broadway revival is pretty intense. Grab a Kleenex!
But all of Every Little Step is worth seeing. It's a great portrait of the anxiety of a Broadway audition, the creative process that makes a show possible (from the director to the writer to the choreographer to the actors), and it's just a lovefest for anyone who's ever been a fan of musical theater.
After the jump, our Brad Proctor's got a nice preview of the film, too!
I've been a massive Rufus fan since day one, I've seen him a zillion times, including his concert doing Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall! In what makes the most sense in the world, he's prepping his debut opera, Prima Donna, for its big premiere this July at the amazingly cool Manchester International Festival in Manchester, England.
The Manchester Fest is a big artsy 17-day extravaganza featuring new works and performances by the likes of Kraftwerk, Antony & the Johnsons, Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson, ballet hottie Carlos Acosta, Damon Albarn and more! And it's where Rufus' gorgeous opera debut will happen!
Watch the video interview with Rufus above to find out more! Opera! Divas! Drama! And Rufus talks about sex with his boyfriend, Anne Hathaway playing Judy Garland, and why he likes rough English blokes.
Rupert Everett gets surprisingly candid in an interview with the Daily Beast. He dishes on everything from the demise of Hollywood's glam to Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter being good in bed (not with him, relax), and being an out and proud actor, despite how it may have affected his career. Here's some of what Everett has to say:
The reason my career is so up and down is that I get
very little opportunity. There is just very little opportunity for a
fag. That’s the reality. There isn’t. But I have no regrets for being
out. None. It’s not like I’m missing out on that much. Being an actor
in Hollywood is not that great a job anymore. It’s become the sluttiest
job on the planet. It’s not remotely serious. It’s not like we’re
talking about Hollywood in the 1970s that I’m missing out on. If we
were talking about ‘70s Hollywood, then I’d be killing myself because
the product back then was so astonishing even though it was still
thought of as commercial cinema. I’m not that upset not to be in Ocean’s 15 or whatever.
He certainly does not hold back. It's pretty refreshing, isn't it? Read the rest of the interview here. The British actor will next appear in this year's Wild Target, directed by Jonathan Lynn.
Love's not the only thing struggling... I'm struggling to comprehend what's happening in Frenchie Naommon's freaky and kind of fabulous new music video for his tune "Love Is Struggling." It's on tonight's Click List music video countdown show on Logo (that's all I can tell you), and it's very Moulin Rouge meets the Lower East Side meets a Radical Faerie retreat in Edith Piaf's dressing room. Silly hats and f*cked-up facial hair are back!
Pass the absinthe! After watching this, I think I'm feeling Saturday's hangover... And it's only Friday morning! Fantastique.
See 9 million amazing portraits and pics of Naommon at his MySpace page. Someone's tres photogenic. Trust.
Chris Garneau announces sophomore album, 'El Radio'
Out indie darling Chris Garneau is slated to release his second album, El Radio, on July 7. The follow-up to his 2007 debut, Music For Tourists will be released on Absolutely Kosher Records. The album is said to be "a dramatic seasonal change, an event horizon, perhaps a carnival or even a birthday." Great. So, basically we're all going to Chris Garneau's birthday party? Did I get that wrong? Whatever, it's exciting news, regardless.
El Radio may promise to be a bit more upbeat than Music for Tourists, but as long as Garneau's soothing, Sufjan Stevens-like voice stays the same, I don't think anyone will mind.
Let's get excited for summer by watching his video for "Relief." He really knows how to pull off an apron, doesn't he?
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